Posted: Feb 8, 2012 9:17 PM
Updated: Feb 9, 2012 3:28 AM
TUCSON - Popular tourist destinations for Tucsonans are now a huge cause for concern. The U.S. State Department issued a travel warning for the cities of Nogales, Sonora and Rocky Point.
The dispatch blames Mexico's continuing drug violence for the updated alert. It cautions against non-essential travel over a good swath of Sonora, particularly areas west of Nogales. Any travel that must happen, should take place on main roads during daylight hours.
Spring break for University of Arizona students is just a month away and travel companies say this new warning could impact their businesses.
Rocky Point Rides Owner Eduardo Vivanco said, "I am just more annoyed than worried, because it's always before the holidays and yes it does produce some refunds or some cancellations that take place because of the warning."
In 2011, 120 Americans were murdered in Mexico. Wednesday's travel warning supersedes the travel warning issued April 22, 2011.
It warns citizens not to travel to Mexico and if they do, to use extreme caution.
Stating, Americans have become victims of gun battles, kidnappings, carjacking, and murder.
The government says spring break destination, Rocky Point, is a key area in the international drug and human trafficking trades and can be extremely dangerous.
College student Juan Pantoja said, "I was there two or three months ago. I go down there often and go to Rocky Point. I have never thought twice about it. It's always a good time."
University of Arizona student Chase Tsui said, "I would love to go visit my boyfriend's family, but the problem is getting there. My mom still has this thing about going to Mexico, so she still doesn't want me to go."
Just like the warning from last year, it says millions of Americans safely visit the country every year with most of the violence taking place near the border, not in resort towns.
Even with the warning, the Mexican Tourism Board is expecting a 10% increase in U.S. travelers this year.
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